The best time to shop at thrift stores

If there's one time of the year that's the absolute best to shop at thrift stores, it is RIGHT NOW!!

Why? I'll give you a simple reason -- year-end tax donations.

That's right. Now is the time when most folks are cleaning out their closets and donating to local charities and thrift stores. I know I am -- trying to make that Dec. 31 deadline for tax contributions for 2014. 

Which means that if you are a thrifter, get ready to see fab finds from the Thrift GAWDS! You'll see good stuff now through after the first of the year as thrift stores begin to put donated merchandise out on the floor. So don't forgot to stop by a thrift store -- or three -- over the next week or so.

I've even begun to notice more stuff out in my local thrift stores  in Metro Atlanta -- and more folks driving up with donations. Happy thrifting!!! 


 

Thrifting for fall

By Tenisha Mercer
BargainistasATL.Blogspot.com

I love fall, because it's the time of year when you can usually find tons of knits in thrift stores.

And it helps that knits are super hot for fall -- from slouchy, oversized sweaters that have made a fashion comeback, to figure-forming sweater dresses -- you can find all of these items at thrift stores.

I refuse to pay $25 and up retail for slouchy sweaters when I know that I can find the same vintage looks at thrift stores for just $5-6 -- can you say, WINNING!

The weather was chilly and brisk yesterday - the perfect for warm knits. 

Here's how I styled my fall outfit yesterday for less than $25, which I got mostly from yard sales.

Animal print sweater: $2 (garage sale)
Scarf: $1 (yard sale)
Boots: $7 (Aldo's, Goodwill, purchased a few years ago)
Jeans: $14 (Walmart)

Hello??!!!

Don't you just hate it when this happens -- go to the counter at the Goodwill, see an item you want, and NO one is there. HELLO??!!

Can I get some help, please?

And you are dying to see how much those black boots (the ones on their side) over the counter cost? I waited a good 5 minutes and I was seconds away from walking behind that counter and seeing what size those boots were for myself .. and then someone showed up.

They were too small.

Thrift OOTD -- Camo, Goodwill style

By Tenisha Mercer

http://BargainistasATL.Blogspot.com

I never know what I am going to wear until the morning. I dress how I feel -- and this morning I woke up and decided to put together a camo theme -- a hot fashion trend earlier this year -- but with my thrift store spin on it, of course.

I bought this Jennifer Lopez for Kohl's tuxedo jacket blazer from GW for $6 over the summer. I held onto it, but now is the perfect time to wear it (remember, Goodwill is seasonal, too). I'll hold onto items for months until I can pull the look off with the right shoes and accessories.

Today was the day. I love the color -- a bright tomato red. Retail: $80 (out of stock on Kohls.com).

I am a girly girl to the core but I love the camo trend, especially when paired with graphic tees and blazers. I love unexpected pairings. So I got these camo jeggings from Wal Mart for $13 on Friday. 

I did not have a good graphic tee to go with it, so I paired it with my $6 clearance top, also from Kohls. 

The belt was $10 at the Express outlet in St. Augustine,  Fla. (last season). And the shoes were $6 at GW. They are a few years old but they are a good neutral and are from Bloomingdale's -- the designer name is rubbed off from my wear.

Total price: $42

While this look is a bit pricier, you can barely get one new item of clothing out of a retail store for what I  paid for my entire outfit! 

My trip to Salvation Army

By Tenisha Mercer
www.BargainistasATL.Blogspot.com

I have a thrift store confession: I don't like Salvation Army. Never really have.

I think part of my frustration is that, when I was a child, my grandmother and I would always truck up to the Salvation Army not far from where we lived in Highland Park, Mich., a stones throw away from Detroit.

And I would see nothing but polyester from the 70s and old, stinky clothing. Nothing new, nothing even close to it. And it would all be a mass jumble -- nothing organized, color coded or anything. Felt like a swap meet -- the only Salvation Army that was halfway decent was in the burbs, but I never went there that often.


So I largely avoided them, even as I became older. Even as a thrifter, I thought there'd be no way I'd find ANYTHING. And they freaked me out (there, I said it). Until last weekend. I happened to be driving near a Salvation Army in Duluth and I stopped in. I was surprised. Now, vintage clothing isn't exactly my cup of tea -- like the average thrifter, I  like some vintage goods, but I did find a LOT of vintage clothing -- bubble jackets from the 90s, gaudy shirts from the 80s.


I managed to find some classic Escada skinny pants - I can't wait to wear them. I have to get out my needle and thread and sew up a rip in the back, but I'll post a pic of them as soon as I do. Escada is a classic brand that I have loved every since I was 12 and 13 years old,  flipping through the pages of Vogue Magazine. I like vintage -- just not all vintage.

The Salvation Army was clean, neat and organized -- they had tons of furniture. I saw at least 3-4 folks on the sales floor, organizing and tidying racks. I was impressed.

This particular store is a good 30 minutes or so away and, while I'm not saying I will go there regularly, it is definitely NOT the Salvation Army of my childhood.